Tie handlers



United States Patent [72] inventor Edward H. Krause. .lr.. Primary Examiner-Hugo O. Schulz New Berlin, Wis. Attorney-Parker, Carter and Markey [21] Appl. No. 786,842 [22] Filed Dec.19, 1968 Cominuafion of sen 614,205 ABSTRACT: The invention, prlmarlly for handling hes in rail- 6,1967 now abandoned way track work, includes a chassis movable along a track and [45] Patented 12 g n having an upper frame or carriage and boom rotatable about a [73] Assign Nordberg Manufacturing Company vertical axis, the boom having an outer and an inner member, Milwaukee Wis the inner member being extensible and carrying at its end a a corporation Wisconsin head with clamping jaws for picking up articles. The head is rotatable about an upright axis and is also rotatable, in relation to the boom, about a horizontal axis. The boom, as a whole, is rotatable about a vertical axis, through an arc of 360, and is also rotatable about a horizontal axis. The engine and a liquid [54] TIE HANDLERS tank on the upper carriage counterweight the boom. The main 5 Claims, 15 Drawing Figsengine drives hydraulic motors and cylinders to perform the 521 U.S. Cl. 214/147, following unc s 214/141; 294/88 1. To move the chassis along the track.

[51] Int B66: 1/42 2. To apply brakes to the chassis wheels when necessary. [50] FieldofSearch 214/141,

132, 147, 147-6; 212/55 3. To rotate the upper carriage and boom about a vertical axis through over 360. [56] ggig g a 4. To rotate the boom about a horizontal axis.

gi 2l4/l 27 5. To advance or retract the inner boom member. ay

6. To rotate the head about an upright axis about an arc of 3:3l9:8l3 5/1967 Beyea 214/147- o x 360 1 2822:; 7. To rotate the head about a horizontal axis in relation to the l:937:0l6 11/1933 Gibby 214/141x and 313231323 22323 3111;;;;;;i:...........::::: iliii 8-theclampingjawsofthehead- All the hydraulic motors and cylinders are under control of FOREIGN PATENTS an operator in a seat on the upper carriage, through actuating 920,977 3/1963 Great Britain 214/88 levers and pedals.

J, w /Z 4L I 49; f0 3; i -==L'---F r- (Ji [Z I m. T h i" l I PATENTEU maze I976 SHEET 2 OF 7 w m WK M% w PATENTED DEB22 I976 SHEET 3 UF 7 ///amgm PATENTED UEE22 I970 SHEET 5 BF 7 I H DLERS This is a continuation Ser. No. 614,205, filed Feb. 6, 1 967, nowabandoned.

The invention relates to an improvement in material handling equipment and has for one purposeto provide a means for handling railroad ties for track laying and other track work. 1

One application is to the lifting, moving and positioning of railroad ties. i I

Another application is to handling, loading and unloading boxes, crates andother objects; for example, their positioning upon or in, or removal from, railroad cars, platforms, storage zones,orthe like. 1 Another purposeis to provide handling equipment which is movable on or alongthe rails of atrack, and which has a subwhich includes 'a readily-extensible boom-whereby to grasp,

handle and release objects through a substantial area.

Another purpose is to' provide an improved boom structure.

Another purpose is toprovide ani-improved remote controlled operating system for material'handling equipment.

Another purpose is to provide improved-control means for material handling booms and heads. I

. Other purposes will appear from time'to time in the course of the specification and claims. r

The invention is illustrated more m les diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and la together provide aside-elevation, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the right end of the structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the turntable and boom support of FIG. I; g I

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the end portion of the boom, with the inner boom member in retracted position; I

FIG. 6 is a partial sideelevation of the inner boom section; FIG. 7 is a plan view of the structure of FIG; 5; FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of the structure of the inner boom member; r

FIG. 9 is a side elevation, in partial section, of the lifting '1 FIG. lllis an endelevation of the structure of FIG. 9 and FIGS. 11, ,12, 13 and 14 are sections taken along the corresponding lines of FIG. 9.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings; I

Referring to the drawings, and considering, for example, FIGS. 1, I2 and 3, track rails and ties are indicated at l and 2,

respectively. A chassis or lower vehicle body or frame 3 is supported on the rails by flanged wheels4'. 5 generally indicates a movable upper carriage or deck whichincludes a turntable portion, generally indicated at 6. 7 indicates a pivot unit or as sembly which may be a two-way hydraulic swivel joint. It will be understood that the details thereof are notof themselves battery box and l6 a tool box. It will be understood that a system of hydraulic ducts, tubes, hoses or pipes is provided, which need not be described in full detail, but is suitably connected to the tank or supply member ll of hydraulic fluid, and

is arranged to carry fluid to the operating parts, in response to whatever pump or compressor means is employed. Various hydraulic motors are provided, which, so far as is necessary,

are described below.

The details of these hydraulic motors do not of themselves the brakes may be actuated by footpedals, not shown in detail, but located conveniently to the seat 12.

- The purpose of the control leversldq to 14f, inclusive, will I later be described, so far as is necessary. Boom and deck rotaof all operations.

tion may be controlled by additional foot levers, not shown in detail. Thus the operator in the seat12has complete control A major characteristic of the invention is the provision of an extensible boom which rotates, with the upper deck 5, about a vertical axis, through an arc of 360. It rotates also about a horizontal axis, and can be suitably locked in adjusted position when necessary. In order to support the boom there are posistructure. 11 indicates a'tank or supply member for the oil of a hydraulic actuating system. It also assists in the counterweighting function. I 1 v An operator seat is positioned on the deck 5 being shown at v 12 in FIGS. 1 to 3. Conveniently located'in relation to the seat tioned on the upper deck 5, adjacent'the axis of the swivel joint 7, upstanding spaced plates or brackets 20, with trunnion blocks 21, at their top, which complete an upwardly extending, generally cruciform structure. Pivoted in the trunnion blocks 21 is the boom stirrup 22. Secured to it, and rotating with it, is the outer boom23. The stirrup and the outer boom may be rotated together about the horizontal axis 24. A forward boom stirrup is indicated at 25, by which the boom may be rotated about its horizontal 24. 26 is a boom lift cylinder, pivoted as at 27 to cars 28on'the crosspiece 29 between the plates 20. I

30 is a lift rod or piston rod, having a piston slidable in the cylinders 26 and pivoted as at 31 to the forward boom stirrup '25.-The cylinder 26 and the piston rod30 are suitably actuated by hydraulic pressure which can be supplied to the cylinder 26 at either side of the enclosed piston. The hydraulic pressure thus available is employed to rotate the boom about the center 24, for example, between-anupper position A and a lower position B, indicated in dotted line in FIG. 1. The hose connections for the cylinder 26 are-not indicated, since they form no part of the present invention. 1

The main or outer boom body 23 is hollow and houses an inner boom or extension 35 which is telescoped into the outer boom body. It carries at its inner end wheels 36 suitably mounted on a shaft 37 in a bracket or support 36a, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8. The outer boom 23 carries, at its outer end, brackets or plates 38 in which are pivoted upper and lower guiding and supporting rollers or flanged wheels 39.and 40. Thus the inner boom 35 may readily be made to slide or telescope into or out of the outer boom 23 by the hydraulic tension of the cable or chain. This cable or chain 45 may be connected to the inner boom 35, as by any suitable connector 49 illustrated, for example, in FIGS. '6 and 8. Top or securing plates 49amay be used to complete'the connection. 50 indicates any suitable boom extension hydraulic motor, which may be provided with any suitable drive whereby-the motor 50 is effective, by rotation of the drive pulley 46, to actuate the chain or" cable 45 and thus to advance or retract the inner boom 35. Suitable cushioning means may be employed to cushion the full penetration of the inner boom into the outer boom, or to cushion the full movement of the outer boom to :its outer limits. Such cushioning means or spring stops are in- ;dicated, for example, at 52 and 53 in FIG. 5. Appropriate tally, as at 55, on a suitable bracket or brackets 56 at the outer end of the inner boom 35. Side plates 57 may extend upwardly from the outer end of the inner boom 35, and between them is pivoted, as at 58, the head tilt cylinder 59. Its piston rod extension 60 is pivoted, as at 61, to the levers 62, which is connected to the head assembly, for example, through ear 63, and which, when tilted by the operation of the piston of the cylinder 59, tilts the head assembly about the center 55.

I Attached to, and forming part of, the head assembly X is the head rotating hydraulic motor 65. While the details them- 'selves are not critical, the head includes an upper, outer, generally cylindrical body portion 66 to which the motor 65 is secured, these parts tilting with the lever 62. Within the body portion 66 are bearing and seal assemblies 67, 68, within which rotates the ported head stem 69 which, however, is held against axial movement in relation to the body portion 66. It is formed with generally vertical fluid passages 70 and 71 which communicate with flexible pipes or hoses 72 and 73, the purpose of which will later appear. As will be clear from FIG. 9, and FIGS. 11 to 14, inclusive, the stem 69 not merely is longitudinally ported, as at 70 and 71, but is provided with suitable circumferential passages 69a, whereby to insure a supply of fluid, at all positions of the stem 69, to the hoses 72 and 73. Pivoted to the lower end of the cylindrical member or stem 69, for rotation about a common horizontal axis 79, are jaws 76 and 77, each having a lower work-engaging face 76a and 77a, respectively. The jaws may conveniently be formed with overlapping arcuate reinforcing or guiding webs 76b and 77b. A head clamp cylinder 80 is pivoted to one jaw, as shown at 760 in FIG. 9, and its piston rod 81 is pivoted to the opposite jaw, as at 77c. The ducts or hoses 72, 73 extend to the cylinder 80 at opposite sides of the piston within the cylinder. Thus the operator, by controlling the flow of liquid through the ported stem 69, can move the jaws 76 and 77 as described. By actuating the cylinder 59 he can tilt the head about its horizontal axis 55. By actuating the head-rotating hydraulic motor 65 he can rotate the head 360 about its upright axis, regardless of the position of the jaws, and regardless of the inclination of the head assembly X to the inner boom 35. If desired, a top jaw plate, such as is shown at 76d in FIG. 9 can be applied to either or both jaws, to limit the penetration of the work into the jaw space.

Without going into excessive detail regarding the hydraulic circuit, note that flexible hoses or pipes are provided which freely permit the' described relative movements of the jaws and head in relation to the boom, they being operative at all normal positions of the inner boom 35 and at all normal positions of rotation of the head, either about its upright axis or about its horizontal axis. An extension hose assembly is provided between the two boom sections and between the inner boom 35 and the head assembly. This is shown, for example, in FIGS. and 7. The passage of fluid through these hoses is controlled by the operator from his seat 12 through foot pedals or through the indicated manual levers 14a through 14]. There may, for example, be a boom extension lever, a boom lift lever, a head rotation lever, a head tilt lever, a head jaw lever, and a set off turntable lever. It is, of course, a matter of choice whether specific controls are positioned as levers or asfoot pedals, but the foregoing will illustrate how the operation of the machine can conveniently be controlled.

In connection with transmission of power to the various parts of the head an assembly of six hoses is provided which connect the inner boom 35 and the operating parts of the head. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, hoses I01, 102 extend to the head-rotating motor 64. Hoses 103, 104 extend to the head body 66, and thus to the ported member 69, and the hoses 72 and 73 to the head clamp cylinder 80. Hoses 105, 106 extend to the pivoted head tilt cylinder 59 at the outer end of the inner boom 35. These six hoses are shown as mounted at their inner ends on the support or connector 107 and pass thence by extensions into the interior of the outer boom 23. They are suitably connected into the general hydraulic system, which includes a suitable source of pressure, actuated by the engine 10, and, of course, the liquidreservoir 11. The above described fluid system permits complete freedom of extension and retraction of the boom parts, since the extension hose assembly above described is unconstrained and can flex freely, and is long enough to permit a predetermined desired boom extension. This leaves the operator in the chair 12 complete freedom to extend or retract the inner boom 35, to rotate the head about its horizontal axis at any degree of extension of the boom, to rotate the clamp or jaws throughout an arc of 360, and, in generaLto do whatever is necessary to pick up, move and drop heavy objects within the radius of the boom at its greatest extension.

Whereas a fully operative structure has been described, it will be understood that many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Likewise, whereas the structure described is particularly useful in handling railroad ties, it may be used to handle any other objects of suitable size and weight. It is therefore desired that the description and drawings herein be taken as, in a broad sense, illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting the patent to the specific structure described and shown herein.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

While the invention has a wide application, in handling various articles and materials, it has particular application to railroad use. Such use may include handling ties, in laying, repairing or maintaining track. The chassis or vehicle may advantageously be carried by flanged wheels, on the track rails, but may also be positioned on endless track or on other conveying means, for movement along the right-of-way. The dual boom structure, with its inner extensible and retractable component, permits the tool to cover a wide area about the upright axis of the boom. It can operate about an arc of 360. The boom is counterweighted by the power plant, which rotates with it. The head, at the outer end of the extensible boom component, can be rotated about its upright axis, through an arc of 360. Its upright axis can also, and at the same time, be rotated about a horizontal axis. Thus, articles, including ties, can be lifted, tilted, rotated and dropped, with complete flexibility of movement. The extension hose assembly maintains the driving or actuating connection for the head and clamp at all positions of boom and head, and at all extensions of the inner boom. A single hydraulic system actuates boom, boom extension and head, and also rotates the upper carriage, conveys the chassis along the track, and actuates the breaking system. The boom may be locked in upper position, for example, by dropping a slotted limiting sleeve over the boom lift piston rod. All actions above described can be controlled by the operator in his normal seat on the chassis.

It will be noted that the flexibility of the system is increased by the fact that the upper frame and boom are rotatable universally about their upright axis, being freely rotatable in either direction of rotation. Likewise, the head is freely rotatable in any direction about its upright axis.

lclaim:

1. In a machine for handling railroad ties and the like, a chassis movable along a track, a platform mounted on the chassis for rotation about a generally upright axis through an arc of the order of 360, hydraulic means for rotating such platform about such axis through such an arc, a boom pivoted to such platform about a generally horizontal axis, hydraulic means for rotating the boom about the horizontal axis through a substantially smaller are, including a piston and cylinder assembly pivoted at one end to the platform and at the other end to the boom in spaced relation to the pivot between the boom and platform, the boom including a first boom component pivoted to the platform about the horizontal axis, and a second boom component telescopically adjustably mounted in relation to the first boom component, a head assembly on the boom component connected to the second boom component and constructed to extend or retract the second boom component upon operation thereof, anda fluid motor on the first boom component adapted to operate the cable and sheave mechanism.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the head assembly is pivoted on the outer end of the second boom component about a generally horizontal axis, and further including hydraulic power means at the outer end of the second outer end of the second boom component, including a pair of 10 boom component connected between the head assembly and opposed movable jaws having faces defining between them, in their closed position, a generally square-cross section space for grasping a railroad tie, hydraulic power means for opening and closing the jaws, and a hydraulic motor in the head assembly for rotating the jaws, as a unit, about an axis generally at right angles to their opening and closing movement so that the jaws may be swiveled to a number of grasping positions relative to the boom direction, and a fluid motor and tank mounted on the platform for supplying hydraulic fluid to the piston and cylinder assembly for raising and lowering the boom and to the various hydraulic means and motors.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a cable and sheave mechanism mounted on the first the second boom component for rotating the head assembly through a limited are about such axis.

4. The structure of claim 2 further characterized by and including shockabsorbers on the boom for cushioning the impact of the second boom component at each end of its travel in its telescopic adjustment.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the fluid motor and tank are mounted on a platform at one side of its upright axis and the boom extends outwardly from the platform from the opposite side of such axis so that the fluid motor and tank constitute a counterweight for holding the platform against bodily tilting movement. 

1. TO MOVE THE CHASSIS ALONG THE TRCK. TO APPLY BRAKES TO THE CHASSIS WHEELS WHEN NECESSARY.
 3. TO ROTATE THE UPPER CARRIAGE AND BOO ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS THROUGH OVER 360*.
 4. TO ROTATE THE BOOM ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS.
 5. TO ADVANCE OR RETRACT THE INNER BOOM MEMBER.
 6. TO ROTATE THE HEAD ABOUT AN UPRIGHT AXIS ABOUT AN ARC OF OVER 360*.
 7. TO ROTATE THE HEAD ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS IN RELATION TO THE BOOM; AND
 8. TO ACTUATE THE CLAMPING JAWS OF THE HEAD. ALL THE HYDRAULIC MOTORS AND CYLINDERS ARE UNDER CONTROL OF AN OPERATOR IN A SEAT ON THE UPPER CARRIAGE, THROUGH ACTUATING LEVERS AND PEDALS. 